Clips of actor occupying a hundred stages (7,4)
I believe the answer is:
clothes pegs
'a hundred stages' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I cannot tell whether it can be defined by this definition.
'clips of actor occupying' is the wordplay.
'clips' becomes 'clegs' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'of' becomes 'o''.
'actor' becomes 'thesp' (short for thespian, term for an actor).
'occupying' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters occupy or enter the word).
'o'+'thesp'='othesp'
'clegs' enclosing 'othesp' is 'CLOTHES-PEGS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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